Playing their first game in seven days due to the All-Star
break, the Magic looked fresh. The 122 points was Orlando's
second-highest total of the season, topped only by a 129-94
victory over Atlanta on December 7.

"It helps when you get rest," Garrity added. "You've got your
legs and you feel good. You've got a lot of energy and that
definitely helps the shots go in."

In the teams' previous meeting at Madison Square Garden, the
Magic erased a 12-point deficit with a game-ending 18-2 run in
the final 4 1/2 minutes to post a 94-90 victory.

No such rally was necessary Tuesday as the Magic broke open a
close game by scoring a season-high 38 points in the third
period.

"The bottom line was that we made shots tonight, which was big,"
Miller said. "But when you've got guys creating, we're tough to
guard, especially if you've got as many shooters as we've got."

Orlando shot 67 percent (16-of-24) in the third quarter and used
a 15-2 run to open a 98-79 lead on McGrady's dunk with 1:27 left
in the period. The Magic had a chance to reach the century mark
in the third quarter but missed three shots in the final minute.

McGrady took a jab at the Knicks for their porous defense.

"I wonder what their game plan was, leave Pat Garrity open?" he
said.

Orlando, which shot 60 percent in the second half, briefly went
cold early in the fourth quarter and the Knicks hoped for a role
reversal, closing to 109-102 on Latrell Sprewell's jumper with
4:33 left.

But McGrady would not let Orlando squander its lead. He answered
Sprewell's basket with a three-point play and scored seven
points in the final four minutes.

"I think we let our guard down there for a second and that's how
they made their run," McGrady said. "But every team makes a run
in this league. It's how the NBA is."

Kurt Thomas scored 23 points and Shandon Anderson added 22 for
the Knicks (19-29), who have dropped four of their last five to
fall 10 games under .500, matching a season high.

New York allowed more than 120 points in regulation for the
first time since February 14, 1996. The Knicks gave up 127 in a
double overtime victory at Milwaukee on January 26.

Known for its defensive tenacity under Jeff Van Gundy, New York
has become more of an offensive-minded team under Don Chaney.
The Knicks tried to run with the athletic Magic but it it turned
out to be a mistake as they gave up numerous layups and
transition baskets, especially in the third quarter.

New York shot 51 percent (46-90) from the field but it was not
enough as the Magic shot 57 percent (46-of-81).

"That's what we wanted to do, go up and down, because I don't
think that team can run with us," McGrady said.

"I think we can play at that pace," Chaney countered. "We
couldn't guard McGrady and because of that Garrity shot well.
Teams that are the most athletic like them create the most
problems for us, definitely."

The Knicks collapsed defensively after closing to 83-77 on
Othela Harrington's layup with 4:54 left in the third quarter.
Garrity's three-point play started Orlando's decisive spurt.
After Harrington's layup made it 88-79 with 3:16 remaining in
the quarter, the Magic reeled off 10 straight points in less
than two minutes.

"I can talk about offense, but when you give up 122 points,
we've got to do a better job of getting to their shooters," New
York guard Allen Houston said. "We didn't get to their 3-point
shooters."

New York erased a seven-point deficit late in the first quarter
to close within a 60-59 at the half. But Garrity provided a
glimpse of things to come by hitting a 3-pointer on Orlando's
first possession of the second half.

The Magic steadily pulled away, building a 77-67 lead on
McGrady's three-point play with 7:56 left in the third quarter.